Four rookie NHL goaltenders to watch in 2026-27

Sep 1, 2026, 08:49 EDT

Four rookie NHL goaltenders to watch in 2026-27

Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

NHL training camps kick off in just more than two weeks – and with them being so short this year, the competition will be fierce.

Last week, we took a look at 25 of the top goaltending prospects in the game. We know goalies develop slower than most, so the majority won’t play in the NHL this season. But for a few names in the top 10, their road to the show begins later this month.

Today, we’re looking at four goalies set for full-time duty for the first time in their careers. Devon Levi (39 GP) and Dennis Hildeby (26 GP) should remain with their respective clubs but aren’t considered rookies due to their experience (25 games played is the threshold to be eligible for the Calder). There’s one goalie on this list who isn’t Calder eligible but is a first-year NHLer by all accounts given he’s had two career starts.

So, let’s look at four rookie goalies looking to make their marks in 2026-27:

Michael DiPietro, 27 (Boston Bruins)

2026-27 Rank: Not Eligible

Given his age, DiPietro isn’t Calder-eligible. But this promotion has been a long-time coming for a guy many considered to be a top goaltending prospect seven to eight years ago. DiPietro has played 131 minutes of NHL hockey over his career and is still seeking his first win. But in the AHL, DiPietro has an all-time record of 118-50-16 and a .918 save percentage. He also home top goalie honors in 2025 and the league MVP title in 2026. There was nothing left for DiPietro to accomplish in Providence. He just needed the right opportunity to prove himself worthy of the big club.

Jeremy Swayman will be Boston’s No. 1 again, as expected. But the Bruins clearly believe enough in DiPietro to not find a replacement after sending Joonas Korpisalo to the New York Rangers on July 1. DiPietro lacks ideal size for an NHL goaltender, but he makes up for that with pure athleticism and play reads. You don’t need to be 6-foot-4 to be a backup if you’re quick enough, so Dipietro should be fine. He has absolutely earned this opportunity, and has the potential to become the next Brandon Bussi – an older rookie who makes a name for himself after losing Calder status. For what it’s worth, DiPietro and Bussi used to be AHL teammates in Providence, and DiPietro’s numbers were better.

Jacob Fowler, 21 (Montreal Canadiens)

2026-27 Rank: 1st

Fowler enters the 2026-27 season as the top goaltending prospect in the world. It’s been a fascinating few years for a goalie many scouts felt was a bit too overweight early in his development cycle. But at 21 years old, he earned his first NHL call up and didn’t disappoint, essentially helping to push former starter Samuel Montembeault out of a job. Fowler is the best goaltending prospect in the game thanks to his incredible play reads, quick movements and fantastic hands and skating.

This feels a little like watching a young Carey Price break through the noise as a youngster. I’m not saying the hype is the same, but Fowler is easily the most skilled Canadiens goalie prospect they’ve had in close to 20 years. Jakub Dobeš might look like a legit No. 1 goalie, but Fowler is going to push him every single night – and that’s huge. Montembeault is still around for now, and the Canadiens could elect to ride a three-goalie system again this year. But Fowler’s pedigree suggests he’s ready for full-time duty, and putting Montembeault on waivers before the start of the regular season might be best for everyone.

Sergei Murashov, 22 (Pittsburgh Penguins)

2026-27 Rank: 5th

Murashov got his first taste of NHL action last year, which included a 4-0 shutout in his second career start. It was well-deserved, given he was on an absolute tear to start the year with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. He went on to finish with a .919 SV% and a 24-9-4 record while primarily sharing the crease with Joel Blomqvist. Both goalies looked good, but Murashov – who played in the AHL all-star game – has the upper edge in Pittsburgh’s depth chart.

I think there’s legit starter potential here (something many goalie observers have believed for a few years now), and it’s probably a good thing they didn’t rush him into full-time NHL duty last season. It looks like Murashov is set to back up Arturs Silovs this year in Pittsburgh, which, while inexperienced, is a decent duo, all things considered. The Pens should challenge for a playoff spot again this year, and Murashov has a chance to establish himself as a legitimate long-term NHL goaltender.

Sebastian Cossa, 23 (Utah Mammoth)

2026-27 Rank: 4th

Cossa was the first goalie off the board during the COVID-impacted 2020-21 season. He went 17-1-1 that season with four shutouts in 19 games with the Edmonton Oil Kings – he was unstoppable. From there, he continued to put up excellent numbers at every level, and quickly established himself as a legitimate contender to become a starting goalie. And, honestly, it was hard to hate the profile: he’s a 6-foot-6 goalie who moves well and tracks pucks exceptionally fluently. But despite taking him in 2021, the Detroit Red Wings elected to draft Trey Augustine two years later. Augustine was smaller, but he built one heck of a reputation with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

Augustine is now ready for pro hockey duty, and the Red Wings had an opportunity to capitalize on a weak goalie market this summer. The Mammoth desperately needed to address their goaltending situation, and Cossa was a perfect fit. He put up excellent numbers in Grand Rapids last year, which included a career-best 26 wins, five shutouts and a .915 SV%. But he unfortunately played some of his worst hockey of his pro career in the second half and lost the starter’s gig to AHL rookie Michal Postava ahead of the playoffs. Hopefully, that’s just a blip in the road, because Cossa is still viewed as one of the game’s top young goalie prospects. He’ll start the year as Karel Vejmelka’s backup, but don’t be surprised if Cossa pushes the needle and becomes a 1B early on.

Should play games: Drew Commesso (Chicago Blackhawks); Ilya Nabokov (Colorado Avalanche); Michal Postava (Detroit Red Wings); Dylan Garand (New York Rangers); Artur Akhtyamov (Toronto Maple Leafs); Carl Lindbom (Vegas Golden Knights)

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